Events for December 5, 2025
First Friday is celebrated on the first Friday of each month throughout Downtown Raleigh to showcase the best of our city's creative community. Thousands venture downtown to visit art galleries & studios open late to host exhibits, artist talks, and creative activities. Retailers and restaurants also get in on the fun with live music, vendor markets, specials/discounts, and more. There's something for everyone each First Friday.
Create your own First Friday itinerary by selecting the hearts for events and experiences you don't want to miss. Receive a custom map and itinerary to guide your First Friday evening!
We're staying open late! Captain Cookie is extending hours to 10 PM to join the festivities at @transfercofoodhall. Enjoy art, live music, and, of course, our super-powered cookies. First Friday just got sweeter!
You don't want to miss the Sip n Shop at the City of Raleigh Museum during Raleigh's First Friday - December 5th from 5:30-9:00pm. Come shop local vendors while sipping on some amazing holiday cocktails. So fun! Admission is free.
Join us at Curate from 6-9pm Fri Dec 5th for a make your own candle event with Tobacco Road Supply Co! Amy, the maker for Tobacco Rd candles, will be with us and will have her make your own candle station set up. Making a custom candle is the perfect cozy treat for yourself or to gift a loved one. Shop our collection of handmade goods and enjoy a complimentary refreshment while you wait for your creation to finish setting. There will also be lots of other First Friday events going on around downtown. We are so excited to celebrate the holidays and local art with you!
Celebrate Raleigh's First Friday with a unique make-and-take event! Drop-in anytime between 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Designed For Joy studio in downtown Raleigh to create your very own Raleigh Acorn Bell—a charming keepsake that symbolizes our "City of Oaks."
Join Le Dive and Old Ghosts Tattoo for a unique experience every First Friday in Raleigh! Le Dive, teams up with Old Ghosts Tattoo for an exciting night of flash tattoos, good vibes, drinks and food and creative energy!
Create and connect with your creative community! Join us for an evening fun and creativity at Leela Improv Theatre at 309 N. Boylan Avenue in Raleigh.
Start your month with laughter, creativity, and community!
Leela’s First Friday Improv Jam & Open Mic is a one-of-a-kind night where everyone is invited to play, perform, and share. Whether you’re an improvisor, musician, poet, comedian, or just someone who loves to cheer others on, this evening is all about connection, fun, and creative expression.
What to Expect:
Improv Jam – Jump on stage and play improv games with new friends. No experience necessary—everyone is welcome.
Open Mic – Share a song, poem, stand-up bit, or any short performance piece in a supportive, welcoming space.
Dry Event – This is a dry improv jam—a fun, creative night without alcohol. Let's let improv be the mind-altering substance to help us let loose and have fun. We'll celebrate with optional drinks AFTER the jam at a local Glenwood South bar.
Celebrate the power of play, try something new, and connect with Raleigh’s vibrant creative community!
When: First Friday of each month
Where: Leela Improv Theatre, Raleigh
Who: Open to all – performers, audience, and community members alike
Schedule:
7:00 PM - Sign up for the Community Jam & Open Mic, Mix & Mingle
7:30 PM - Community Jam & Open Mic begins
Check out Mandala Sky, a 25-foot overhead sculpture in Smoky Hollow, made up of more than 400 crocheted mandalas. This colorful and whimsical community art project, sponsored by the Glenwood South Neighborhood Collaborative and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, was created by 30 artists and assemblers, working throughout the summer of 2025. It got off the ground -- literally -- just in time for First Friday in October, and will stay afloat throughout the fall. You can view some individual mandalas close up -- and even get one of your own by donating to the GSNC.
Sustainable Holiday Market and Happy Hour
To celebrate the end of an impactful year, Greenplaces, Better Made Easy, and Raleigh Founded would like to invite you to join us for a Sustainable Holiday Market and Happy Hour. This will be a great chance for us to cheers to the end of a year and help you get some sustainable last minute holiday shopping done!
We’re featuring local, sustainable makers from across the Triangle to display and sell their products, and we will have some holiday themed apps, drinks, and music. Located downtown at Raleigh Founded, you're also only steps away from First Friday!
Date | Friday, December 5
Time | 4:00 — 7:00pm ET
Venue | Raleigh Founded, North Street
Address | 509 W North St Suite 224, Raleigh, NC 27603
There is no fee to attend; however, help us with our catering order by RSVPing by Monday, December 1. Looking forward to seeing you!